Salmon

Idaho is adding its first new state park in almost 30 years, with Twin Peaks Ranch State Park, offering 677 acres of beautiful wilderness.

It’s Friday, which means it's time for our Reporter Roundtable when Idaho Matters gets you up to date on all the news that made headlines this past week.

Plaintiffs say it would damage the area’s native plants and water supply.

Average salmon and steelhead counts in the Columbia River Basin over the last decade are still well below officials’ goal of five million fish per year.

Idaho rivers were once home to one of the country’s largest salmon runs. Today, however, those same salmon are headed towards extinction.

While debate continues over whether or not to remove the four lower Snake River dams to help fish, like endangered salmon, in other places, dams are already coming down for a variety of reasons.

A leaked plan from the Biden administration gave insight into a proposed agreement from the federal government that would spend billions of dollars to replace the energy that the four lower Snake River dams currently generate, plus spend more money to help save salmon in the Columbia Basin.

The US government has reached an agreement wit to help restore salmon populations in the Upper Columbia River Basin. The agreement will fund more than 200 million dollars towards the project over the next 20 years.

Several conservation and fishing groups say the Snake River dams are making the river too hot for sockeye salmon. Now, they’re planning to sue the federal government to remove the dams. But dam advocates say the move will make climate change – and hot waters – worse.

Organizers hope the wave brings excitement for locals and a reason for tourists to stay in town when they come to raft the Salmon River.